Document Detail


Relationship between free T4 levels and postnatal steroid therapy in preterm infants.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19419509     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Transient hypothyroxinemia is the most common thyroid dysfunction in preterm infants. Hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid immaturity and non-thyroidal illness contribute to its etiology. The aim of the present study was therefore to determine the relationship between thyroid hormone status and early postnatal steroid therapy in preterm infants. METHODS: A prospective study of premature infants born at <28 weeks of gestation between July 2001 and June 2007 was conducted. Selective postnatal steroid (dexamethasone) therapy was used in lung disease treatment if the infants needed high mean airway pressure-assisted ventilation and supplemental oxygen at 2 weeks of age. Free T4 (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were assessed at 2 weeks after birth. Blood samples in eight infants were available after starting steroid therapy. Infants receiving steroids (steroid (+); n= 8) were compared to those not receiving steroids (steroid (-); n= 73). RESULTS: The demographic data were not significantly different between the two groups. The neonatal illnesses and drug use were also not significantly different between the groups. The steroid (+) group had significantly lower FT4 and TSH levels at 2 weeks after birth than the steroid (-) group. The increase in FT4 levels after steroid withdrawal was greater than that during the same period in the steroid (-) patients. CONCLUSION: Even if it cannot be excluded that reduced FT4 and TSH concentrations are caused by non-thyroidal illness, the present study suggests that postnatal steroid treatment reduces the FT4 and TSH levels in premature infants born at <28 weeks of gestation.
Authors:
Hirokazu Arai; Ryoji Goto; Takefumi Matsuda; Tsutomu Takahashi
Related Documents :
6335089 - Thyroid function in healthy normal, low birthweight and preterm infants.
8435899 - Congenital hypothyroidism: the riyadh military hospital experience.
9063429 - Pseudotumor cerebri in an infant after l-thyroxine therapy for transient neonatal hypot...
10447019 - Hypothyroxinemia in premature infants: is thyroxine treatment necessary?
23357779 - Feasibility and effectiveness of a population-based newborn hearing screening in an eco...
11826199 - A longitudinal assessment of thyroid hormone concentrations in preterm infants younger ...
9448909 - The molecular basis of intractable diarrhoea of infancy.
9391739 - The plantar response in normal newborn infants.
19220239 - Maternal methadone use in pregnancy: factors associated with the development of neonata...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2009-03-20
Journal Detail:
Title:  Pediatrics international : official journal of the Japan Pediatric Society     Volume:  51     ISSN:  1442-200X     ISO Abbreviation:  Pediatr Int     Publication Date:  2009 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-02-17     Completed Date:  2010-07-01     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100886002     Medline TA:  Pediatr Int     Country:  Australia    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  800-3     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Akita Red Cross Hospital, Akita, Japan. arahiro@med.akita-u.ac.jp
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / adverse effects*,  therapeutic use
Dexamethasone / adverse effects*,  therapeutic use
Female
Gestational Age
Humans
Hypothyroidism / blood,  chemically induced*,  diagnosis*
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature, Diseases / blood*,  drug therapy*
Infant, Small for Gestational Age*
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Male
Prospective Studies
Reference Values
Thyrotropin / blood
Thyroxine / blood*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anti-Inflammatory Agents; 50-02-2/Dexamethasone; 7488-70-2/Thyroxine; 9002-71-5/Thyrotropin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Association between serum adipocytokine and cholesterol levels in cord blood.
Next Document:  Critical analysis of caregiver perceptions regarding gastrostomy tube placement.